The little man rose, and walked out of the room, smiling.
"Splendid!" he murmured. "What a specimen to add to my collection!"
"Do you know what your duties will be?" Fitzgerald inquired.
"They will consist of replying to begging letters from the needy and deserving, from crazy inventors, and ministers. In the meantime, I am to do translating, together with indexing a vast library devoted to pirates. Droll, isn't it?" Breitmann laughed, but this time without bitterness.
"It is a harmless hobby," rather resenting Breitmann's tone.
"More than that," quickly; "it is philanthropic, since it will employ me for some length of time."
"When do they expect you?"
"At half-after ten."
"We'll go up together, then. Did you see the admiral's daughter?"
"A daughter? Has he one?" Breitmann accepted this news with an expression of disfavor.